SENIOR CORPS WEEK PROCLAMATION [TEMPLATE]

WHEREAS, Americans are living longer and achieving more, taking on new roles after decades of hard work to ensure opportunity for the generations that follow;

WHEREAS, the nation recognizes the contributions of seniors during the month of May, designated as Older Americans Month;

WHEREAS, older Americans bring a lifetime of skills and experience that can be tapped to meet challenges in our nation’s communities; and

WHEREAS, for more than five decades, the three Senior Corps programs –Foster Grandparents,Senior Companions, and RSVP– have proven to be a highly cost-effective way to engage Americans age 55 and over in volunteer service that meets pressing community needs; and

WHEREAS, Senior Corps volunteers build capacity of organizations and communities by serving through more than 28,000 nonprofit, community, educational, and faith-based community groups nationwide; and

WHEREAS, each year Senior Corps provides volunteer service opportunities for more than 245,000 older Americans to serve their communities across the nation, including approximately [INSERT CURRENTNUMBER OF SENIOR CORPS VOLUNTEERS] in [STATE/CITY/COMMUNITY]; and

WHEREAS,nationally, Senior Corps volunteers last year provided more than 74.6 million hours of service, improving the lives of our most vulnerable citizens, strengthening our education system, helping seniors live independently in their homes, protecting our environment, combatting the opioid epidemic, and preventing elder abuseand contributing to our public safety;and

WHEREAS, at a time of mounting social needs and growing interest in service by older Americans our nation has an unprecedented opportunity to harness the talents of 55-plus volunteers to address additional community challenges; and

WHEREAS,service by older Americans keeps them active, healthy, and engaged; helps our communities by solving local problems; and helps our nation by saving taxpayer dollars, reducing healthcare costs, and strengthening our democracy; and

WHEREAS, Senior Corps volunteers demonstrate commitment, dedication, and patriotism by making an intensive commitment to service, a commitment that makes a lasting impact on the individuals and communities they serve; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, [INSERT NAME OF INDIVIDUAL], [INSERT TITLE OF INDIVIDUAL -I.E., Governor/Mayor/Community Leader] of [State/City/Community], do hereby designate May April 30-May , 201815-19, 2017, as National Senior CorpsWeek and urge other officials, organizations, and citizens to recognize Senior Corps volunteers and programs for their commitment to our communities.